Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde led the 'Savarkar Gaurav Yatra' in Thane city on Sunday, attended by hundreds of people to honour late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar.
Last month, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena announced that Savarkar Gaurav Yatras would be held in each district of Maharashtra to commemorate Savarkar's contribution to the country and to counter Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's criticism of him.
Yatra participants wore saffron caps
On Sunday, the yatra participants, wearing saffron caps with 'Mi Savarkar' (I am Savarkar) and other messages written on them, paid floral tributes to Savarkar at the Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan auditorium in Thane city from where the yatra commenced.
A tableau displaying information related to Savarkar was also part of the yatra. Shinde and some other leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP coalition participated in the yatra on a makeshift 'chariot' and waved to citizens as the yatra moved to cover four Assembly segments in the city.
Flowers showered on participants
Flowers were showered on the participants as they rode around Thane on more than 200 motorbikes and 100 auto-rickshaws, shouting praises to Savarkar and the country.
The yatra was attended by BJP leader Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Thane MLA Sanjay Kelkar, Thane BJP chief and MLC Niranjan Davkhare, former mayor Naresh Mhaske, Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik, and many other local leaders of the ruling coalition.
Huge hoardings of Savarkar were put up in the city, patriotic songs were played during the yatra and rangolis (colourful patterns) were made at various places.
A number of women in colourful attire and carrying lezims also participated in the yatra.
(With PTI inputs)
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